Home » Police officer, 23, jailed for FIVE YEARS after being convicted of rape and sexual assault – as victim shows ‘immense courage’ to bring predator cop to justice

Police officer, 23, jailed for FIVE YEARS after being convicted of rape and sexual assault – as victim shows ‘immense courage’ to bring predator cop to justice

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PC Ben Bottomley committed rape BEFORE joining force then sexually assaulted same victim while training as student officer – will be on Sex Offenders Register for life

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed for five years following his conviction for rape and sexual assault by penetration against the same woman – with one attack occurring before he even joined the force.

PC Ben Bottomley, 23, who was based in Kirklees District, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today where he was sentenced to four years imprisonment for rape and one year imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration, to be served consecutively.

The disgraced officer will also be subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for life – marking the end of a shocking case that has rocked public confidence in policing.

In a devastating blow to the force’s reputation, the court heard how Bottomley committed the rape offence BEFORE he joined West Yorkshire Police – then went on to sexually assault the same victim by penetration while he was a student officer learning to protect the public.

Victim’s ‘immense courage’ praised

Both offences were only reported to police after Bottomley had joined the force, with the brave victim coming forward despite the added fear of reporting a serving police officer.

Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Directorate, praised the victim’s bravery in exposing the predator in uniform.

These were extremely serious allegations to be made against a serving police officer and he was immediately suspended from duty when the investigation commenced in June 2023,” she said.

“The victim has shown immense courage in coming forward to report these offences. We do not underestimate how hard it is to report such offending in any circumstances but understand that there may also be additional concerns when the perpetrator works in policing.”

‘Disregard for consent’

The senior officer didn’t mince words about Bottomley’s crimes, declaring: “PC Bottomley has demonstrated a disregard for the victim’s right to consent and, in addition to any custodial sentence he is given, he will now be subject to extra conditions on him as a convicted sex offender.

The case has sent shockwaves through the force, with Bottomley having worked in the Kirklees District – one of West Yorkshire’s busiest policing areas covering Huddersfield, Dewsbury and surrounding towns.

The 23-year-old from Halifax was found guilty following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court in April, with the jury rejecting his denials and convicting him of both charges.

Immediate suspension

West Yorkshire Police acted swiftly when the allegations emerged, immediately suspending Bottomley from duty in June 2023 when their Professional Standards Directorate launched an investigation into the off-duty offences.

DCS Wilkins emphasized the force’s commitment to rooting out criminal officers: “I hope the investigation and subsequent prosecution show that police and partners will take action, regardless of the occupation of the offender.

She added: “We are committed to protecting women from violence and sexual violence.”

Barred from policing forever

An accelerated misconduct hearing is due to take place next month with a view to Bottomley being added to the College of Policing’s Barred list – preventing him from EVER gaining employment in policing again.

We will also now continue with misconduct proceedings with a view to PC Bottomley being barred from working in policing in any role in the future,” DCS Wilkins confirmed.

The case represents yet another blow to public confidence in policing, coming amid a series of high-profile cases involving serving officers committing serious crimes.

Pattern of police criminality

Shocking Freedom of Information data reveals that 26 police officers were charged or summoned to court in West Yorkshire alone during 2024, highlighting the scale of criminality within the ranks.

Recent cases in the force include:

The statistics paint a disturbing picture of officers abusing their positions of trust and authority.

‘Additional concerns’ for victims

DCS Wilkins acknowledged the particular challenges faced by victims of police perpetrators: “We do not underestimate how hard it is to report such offending in any circumstances but understand that there may also be additional concerns when the perpetrator works in policing.

The case highlights the power imbalance when those meant to protect become predators, with victims potentially fearing they won’t be believed or that the officer’s colleagues might close ranks.

Student officer turned predator

Perhaps most chilling is the timeline of Bottomley’s offending – committing rape before joining the force, then escalating to sexual assault while undergoing training as a student officer.

This raises serious questions about vetting procedures and whether warning signs were missed during the recruitment process.

The fact that he felt emboldened to commit further sexual violence WHILE training to become a police officer demonstrates a shocking level of arrogance and entitlement.

Force faces scrutiny

West Yorkshire Police now faces difficult questions about how a rapist was able to join their ranks and continue offending while in uniform.

The case comes at a time when forces across the country are under intense scrutiny following high-profile cases including the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick.

Justice finally served

For the victim, today’s sentencing represents the end of a long and traumatic journey through the justice system – made all the more difficult by having to give evidence against a serving police officer.

Her courage in coming forward has not only secured justice for herself but potentially protected other women from a dangerous sexual predator who had infiltrated the police service.

As Bottomley begins his five-year sentence, the victim can take some comfort that her bravery has ensured this predator in uniform can never abuse his position again.

West Yorkshire Police must now work to rebuild public trust and ensure that those who wear the uniform are worthy of the badge they carry.

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